A modular articulated doormat

ABSTRACT

An articulated modular doormat is composed of a series of identical transversal modules mutually connected with means that allow both for translation and rotation between adjacent modules.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO AN APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON COMPACT DISC

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present patent application for industrial invention relates to a modular articulated doormat that is able to take multiple positions.

2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,579,704 discloses an articulated floor matting.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,486,392 discloses a roll-up doormat including a plurality of rigid, elongated rails interconnected by flexible coupling members.

EP 0 067 024 discloses a floor covering comprising rigid longitudinal members connected by longitudinal flexible linking members.

DE 201 03 048 discloses a floor mat comprising rigid strips and flexible strips.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,190,799 discloses a floor mat provided with longitudinal rail sections composed of a rigid plastic core that is co-extruded with a plastic cushion layer.

The purpose of the present invention is to devise a doormat that is able to take different positions according to the surface whereon it lies, which may be flat, curved, stepped, etc.

A further purpose of the present invention is to devise a doormat that, in addition to achieving the aforesaid purpose, is able to change its length according to the dimensions of the surface whereon it is positioned.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These and other purposes are achieved by the doormat according to the first independent claim.

The articulated modular doormat of the invention is provided with a series of identical transversal modules that are mutually connected with means that allow both for translation and rotation between modules.

More precisely, each module of the doormat is provided with a central body from which two opposite staggered series of sawteeth protrude; said sawteeth of each module being interposed and connected, with possibility to roto-translate, to the sawteeth of an identical adjacent module.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For explanatory purposes the description of the doormat according to the invention continues with reference to the attached drawings, which only have an illustrative, not limiting value, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an axonometric bottom view of the doormat of the invention in extended position;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the doormat of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the doormat of the invention in contracted position;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the doormat of the invention in curved position;

FIG. 5 is an axonometric bottom view of the doormat of the invention in “stepped” position;

FIG. 6 is a top view of one of the modules of the doormat according to the invention;

FIGS. 7 and 8 show the module of FIG. 6 sectioned along plane VII-VII and VIII-VIII, respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 6, the doormat of the invention is composed of a series of identical transversal modules (M) mutually connected with means (11,12,13,14) that allow both for translation and mutual rotation.

More precisely, each module (M) has a central body (1) from which two opposite staggered series (S1 and S2) of sawteeth (11 and 12) protrude.

A first series (S1) of teeth (11) comprises a transversal pin (13) connecting a pair of side-by-side teeth (11) of the same series (S1); according to a preferred embodiment, said first series (S1) comprises a single transversal pin (13) that connects all teeth (11).

For assembly purposes said pin (13) is removable with respect to said first series (S1) of teeth (11), each of them being provided with a hole (11 a) in the vicinity of its free end in order to exactly receive the pin (13).

Referring to FIG. 6, the teeth (12) of the second series (S2) have a seat (14) that houses said transversal pin (13) of the first series (S1) of an adjacent transversal module (1).

The slots (14) of the teeth (12) of the second series (S2) are preferably identical, each of them comprising a first end (14 a) closer to the body (1) of the module (M) and a second end (14 b) farther from the body (1) of the module (M).

The connection of two adjacent modules (M) provides for positioning the teeth (11) of the first series (S1) of the first module (M) in interposed position with respect to the teeth (12) of the second series (S2) of the second module (M), and then inserting the pin (13) both inside the holes (11 a) of the teeth (11) of the first series (S1) and the slots (14) of the second series (S2) of teeth (12).

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the hole (11 a) of the two end teeth (11 b, 11 c) of the first series (S1) is blind; the assembly of the pin (13) and the connection of two adjacent modules provide for:

-   -   bending one (11 b) of said two end teeth (11 b, 11 c) of a         module (being the module made of flexible material);     -   inserting the pin (13) inside the other teeth (11) of the series         (S1) of the first module and inside the slots (14) of the         adjacent module, until it is stopped against the bottom wall of         the blind hole (11 a) of the other end tooth (11 c);     -   bringing the tooth (11 b) back to its original position, in         alignment with respect to the adjacent tooth (11), inserting the         pin (13) into the blind hole (11 a).

Therefore different positions of the doormat can be obtained by making the pin (13) slide inside the slots (14) of the teeth (12) of the second series (S2), as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4.

By bringing the pin (13) in correspondence of the first end (14 a) of the slot (14), the modules (M) are brought closer and the doormat takes a contracted position, as shown in FIG. 3, whereas by bringing the pin (13) in correspondence of the second end (14 b) of the slot (14), the modules (M) are brought farther and the doormat takes an extended position, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 shows a curved portion of a doormat according to the present invention, which is able to follow a curvilinear direction; said position is obtained by tilting the adjacent transversal modules (M).

FIG. 5 shows the doormat of the present invention in “stepped” position, i.e. a position that allows the doormat to lie perfectly onto a flight of steps, covering both the tread and rise of the steps.

More precisely, in this case a first series (M1) of modules (M) is disposed in horizontal position onto the tread of the step, whereas a second series (M2) of modules (M), after the first series (M1), is disposed in vertical position to cover the rise of the step.

Obviously, both the first (M1) and second (M2) series of modules (M) can be disposed in contracted or extended position in order to adjust to the dimensions of the tread or rise of the step.

In case of a winding or curved staircase, the doormat of the invention can be used by providing that the modules (M) of the second series (M2), which cover the rise of the step, are aligned and disposed in vertical position, whereas the modules (M) of the first series (M1), which cover the tread of the step, are disposed according to a curvilinear direction, as shown in FIG. 4.

Said two series (M1 and M2) of modules (M) comprise two adjacent modules (M) disposed at square angle and mutually tilted by 90°.

Said square position can be obtained because the pin (13) can rotate inside the series of slots (14) wherein it is inserted.

It must be noted that the pair of adjacent modules (M) at square angle must be disposed in maximum extended position, so that perfect continuity of the doormat walking surface is obtained in correspondence of the corner (A).

To that end, it must be noted that the free end (110 and 120) of each tooth (11 and 12) is enlarged and has a basically octagonal shape.

Said shape is used so that when a pair of adjacent modules (M) is in extended position, the heads (110 and 120) of the teeth (11 and 12) of the two opposite series (S1 and S2) of adjacent modules (M) are in perfect mutual contact and provide total continuity both when the modules (M) are coplanar and when they are bent at square angle, forming a corner (A), as shown in FIG. 5.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, each module (M) is provided on the lower side, that is the side adapted to lie on the ground, with pegs (15) and suckers (16) to improve ground stability during use. 

1. An articulated modular doormat comprising a series of identical transversal modules mutually connected with means that allow both for translation and rotation between adjacent modules, each module being provided with a central body from which two opposite staggered series of sawteeth protrude, comprising a first series (of sawteeth and a second series of sawteeth said first series of sawteeth comprising at least one transversal pin that connects a pair of side-by-side teeth of said first series, wherein said teeth of the second series have a seat that houses said transversal pin of the first series of an adjacent transversal module, said seat of the teeth of the second series consists in a slot with a first in closer position to the body of the module and a second end in farther position from the body of the module.
 2. The doormat of claim 1, wherein said first series comprises a single transversal pin that connects all teeth of each transversal module.
 3. The doormat of claim 2, wherein each tooth of said first series has a free end and a hole in the vicinity of its free end adapted to exactly receive said transversal pin of the first series.
 4. The doormat of claim 3, wherein the first series has two end teeth, with blind hole.
 5. The doormat of claim 1, wherein each of said teeth of the first and second series has an enlarged head with basically octagonal shape, such that when a pair of adjacent modules is in extended position, the heads of the teeth of the two opposite series of the adjacent transversal modules are in perfect mutual contact and provide continuity both when the transversal modules are coplanar and when they are bent at square angle to form a corner.
 6. The doormat of claim 1 preceding claims, wherein each module has a lower side adapted to lie on the ground and provided with pegs and suckers to improve floor mat stability during use. 